Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / United States / Washington, D.C. / The Hay-Adams
The Hay-Adams
Washington, D.C., District of Columbia, United States · Independent · Grand Luxury
Opened in 1928 on the razed connected mansions of John Hay and Henry Adams, The Hay-Adams faces Lafayette Square across from the White House. Developer Harry Wardman hired Mihran Mesrobian for the Italian Renaissance residential hotel. President-elect Barack Obama and his family stayed here for two weeks before inauguration when Blair House was occupied.
- 145 rooms
- Opened 1928
- Neighborhood: Downtown
- Rooms from 245 sq ft (23 m²)
- Architect: Mihran Mesrobian
About The Hay-Adams
- Sits on the former 1885 homes of Secretary of State John Hay and historian Henry Adams at 16th and H Streets NW.
- Harry Wardman razed the mansions in 1927 and opened The Hay-Adams House in 1928 to Mihran Mesrobian's Italian Renaissance design.
- Hotel magnate Julius Manger bought it in 1932, converted it to a transient hotel, and added central air-conditioning; he lived there until his death in 1937.
- Obama's family used the hotel for two weeks before the 2009 inauguration because Blair House was unavailable.
- A contributing property to the Lafayette Square and Sixteenth Street Historic Districts and a Historic Hotels of America member.
The setting
The Hay-Adams sits toward the west of Downtown in Washington, D.C.. The White House is about 4 minutes on foot. Downtown D.C. is the capital after the hearings let out: Lafayette Square, Pennsylvania Avenue, and hotel palaces that still treat a night as a state occasion.
Restaurants and bars
- The Lafayette — Restaurant · Upscale contemporary American
- Off The Record — Café
Experiences
- Off The Record bar — Hotel bar on property, recognised as a Top Hotel Bar in USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards (August 2026).
- Fine-dining restaurant — Fine-dining restaurant on property for dining and gatherings.
- Author Series — Series hosting authors, including James McBride (2024 announcement), plus music salons.
- In-room 'Cocktail Hour' experience — In-room cocktail hour experience introduced in February 2024.
- Takeaway gourmet bites — Takeaway gourmet bites for guests travelling or exploring the city, created April 2024.
Amenities
- Fitness center
- Rooftop bar
- Pet-friendly
Awards
- AAA Four Diamond (2026)
- Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star (2026)
- MICHELIN Two Keys (2026)
- MICHELIN One Key (2025)
Open The Hay-Adams in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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